THE BUBBLE
NEWCOMERS BENEFIT FROM MENTORS’ KNOWLEDGE
BY STEPHANIE HUNT-CROWLEY
I was thinking about the fact that we have been talking a lot about mentors, but there is one thing that is worth consid- ering. Newcomers are told to find a mentor, but many are unable to find one. There can be many reasons for this. Per- haps it is a new breed, or an established one with very low numbers, and people with experience are scattered around the country. Some experienced breeders are already overtaxed with work and/or fami- ly issues, and some are simply unwilling. For whatever reason, there are not enough mentors around. It came to me that we have forgot- ten a whole pool of potential mentors with relevant qualifications, people who have had experience as breeders, exhibitors, handlers, trainers, and groomers in one or more breeds but are no longer active. They will have gained a lot of knowledge along the way, but two or three decades later they are often forgotten in their breeds. I am thinking of those people who started to show dogs in the past and then began breeding, gradually gaining experience and knowledge. Some became successful breeders and others became handlers and trainers. Some succeeded in their goals or their goals changed, or due to personal circumstances they retired from the dog show world. How many of these people with knowledge and experience have been adequately remembered, and how many have been ignored and forgotten? Just because someone had to stop breeding and showing dogs due to accident, injury, or bad health does not mean that they cannot teach and advise people and pass on the knowledge they have. Many who retired due to age and have no other commitments would be able to contribute to a mentorship program—and enjoy doing so!
86 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2024
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